CARROLL NETS LATE LIVERPOOL WINNER

Andy Carroll scored a last-gasp winner to give 10-man Liverpool a welcome 3-2 victory at beleaguered Blackburn in the Barclays Premier League at Ewood Park on Tuesday night.

A dramatic clash saw Kenny Dalglish's side storm ahead thanks to a Maxi Rodriguez double only to be pegged back by a brace from Rovers striker Yakubu.

The forward saw a penalty saved in the first half by substitute goalkeeper Brad Jones, who was called upon when Alexander Doni - deputising for the suspended Pepe Reina - was handed his marching orders for a foul on Junior Hoilett to leave the Reds staring at a goalkeeping problem just four days before their FA Cup semi-final against Everton.

Jones kept out Yakubu's weak penalty but failed to deny the striker as he headed home his first before the break and made no mistake with his second attempt from the penalty spot in the second half.

The encounter looked destined for a draw but Carroll was the hero for Liverpool in stoppage time, nodding home after Daniel Agger flicked on Sebastian Coates' long ball.

The triumph halts a run of four games without a win for the Liverpool, while Steve Kean's men remain rooted in the Premier League relegation zone after this defeat.

Dalglish refused to discuss the sending off of Doni after the game.

"We're not going to discuss the decision of the referee," Dalglish told Sky Sports 1.

When pressed he added: "We are not going to discuss it now. I don't intend to discuss it."

Dalglish preferred to concentrate on the performance of his players.

He added: "To get a man sent off and come away from here with a victory speaks great credit for them. It's been a smashing day for us."

Blackburn manager Kean was unhappy the referee and his assistant had missed what he claimed was a foul on Grant Hanley by Martin Skrtel in the run-up to Liverpool's winner.

Kean claimed Hanley would have got back to where Agger headed the ball on for Carroll to head in the winner.

He said: "It's cruel because we felt we had done enough (to get a point).

"I feel very aggrieved about the last goal.

"Grant had tried to get back up but he can't get back up because Skrtel's pulling him to the ground."